Engineering Explained

Valve Timing Electronic Control, better known to enthusiasts as VTEC. We hear a lot about the system, but what is it exactly and how does it work? Jason Fenske, engineering mastermind behind YouTube's Engineering Explained, has tackled the system in one of his latest episodes. As usual, he breaks... read more

The pushrod engine is a rather archaic piece of engineering, but automakers have stuck by it to this day. Notably, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors still shove... read moreJuly 4, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

When most of us pull up to the pump, we are in vehicles that require gasoline. A portion of us sidle up to diesel pumps. In the future, maybe we'll we'll drive vehicles with... read moreJuly 3, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

While the engine of your car might be its heart, it's the battery that provides the juice to get that engine moving. By now, you probably know plenty about how your engine... read moreJune 19, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Horsepower is fun in its own way, but torque can be just as entertaining. If you want to rip stumps out of the ground, you'll want a whole lot of torque. That also means... read moreJune 18, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

When you think about expensive automobiles, there's one data point that doesn't often enter into the discussion. That would be reliability. It seems the more you spend on a... read moreMay 23, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Mazda hasn't been shy about its dedication to the internal combustion engine. After all, the Japanese company will likely arrive first to market with a homogeneous charge... read moreMay 18, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Pushrod engines may not be high-tech by today's standards, but they soldier on and have benefits of their own. One downfall, however, is their ability to rev. Pushrod engines... read moreMay 15, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

You pull up to the pump and you are presented with a few choices, and we're not talking about different fuel types here. We're talking, of course, about octane ratings. Those... read moreMay 12, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Ford's famed flathead V-8 was revolutionary when the automaker put the engine into production in 1932. It brought the V-8 to the mass market and ready power to hot rodders... read moreMay 11, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Automakers have started using electric compressors to help eliminate lag in their turbocharged engines. The first with the technology was Audi, which introduced it in its SQ7... read moreMay 1, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

The dynamic skip fire system developed by Silicon Valley startup Tula Technology is set to make its debut in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra, promising big... read moreApril 21, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Drivers have various reasons for starting in second gear, especially with a manual transmission. Perhaps first gear is too short, or snowy road conditions require lighter... read moreApril 20, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Too much body roll is never a good thing. To tighten things up further, Audi has introduced a system featuring two electronic sway bars to nearly eliminate body roll. And who... read moreApril 13, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Your car arrives from the factory. Bolted under the hood is an engine that makes modest power, and it does so by breathing just fine on its own. It could make more power... read moreMarch 31, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Every media outlet in the world covered Volkswagen's tangled web of lies and deceit as "Dieselgate" opened up and spewed the truth nearly three years ago. Its consequences... read moreFebruary 28, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski